Greenhouse



(No'ModeL) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. WOOD.

I GREENHOUSE. No. 293,696 Patented Feb. 19, 1884.

mmms, Y I jzzivezzfozz 4WWZ M- (No Model.) B M W601) 4 Shets-Sheet 2.

GREENHOUSE.

Patented Feb. 19,- 1884.

. fivmann, PETERS. PhnwUmJgr-apher, Washingicn. 11c.

' 4 Sheets -Sheet 3; E. M. WOOD.

(No Model.)

GREENHOUSE.

Patented Feb. 19, 1884.

'4. S'heets-'-Sheet 4,

(No Model.)

II. M. WOOD;

GREENHOUSE.

No; 293.696. Patented Feb. [19; 1384.

Y WVooD, a citizen of the United States, residing reference markedthereon, which form a part partially-open one, thereby insuring any de-UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICEQ- EDMUND MORTIMER wool), 01 NA'rIcK,MASSACHUSETTS.

GREENHOUSE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 293,696, dated February19, 1884.

Application filed May To all whom it may concern: I Be it known that I,EDMUND MORTIMER at Nat-ick, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inGreenhouses; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact descriptionof the invention, such. as will enable othersskilled in the art to-which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters orfigures of of this specification.

In the cultivation of greenhouseplantssuoh as roses, azaleas,&c.-whether for the plants themselves or their flowers or fruit, it isessential, in order to produce Well-seasoned stocks, to insure vigorousflowering or fruiting, and larger and more abundant products, that theybe at seasonable times fully exposed to the open air. Heretofore thisresult has been effected by one of two 1net-hodseither the plants havebeen removed from the greenhouse to the open ground outside, or theglazed sashes have been removed entirely from the house, so as to permitpf free entrance of light and sun. The same result has been imperfectlyaccomplished by providing ventilation at the top or bottom or sides; butthis latter method induces unequal drafts'of air through the house,which endangers the perfection or the life of the plants. The removal ofplants to the open ground or the removal of the sashes from the roof isattended with considerable expense, and the larger and more valuableplants cannot be readily removed, and in either event the plants areexposed to flue tuations in the weather. My invention is intended togive perfect-control over the glass covering of the house, enabling suchhouse to be changed at a moments notice from a tightlyclosed conditionto an entirely open one or a sired degree of ventilation withoutinjurious drafts, the infiowing air being more perfectly controlled andevenly distributed and heated before having access to the plants. By myconstruction, also, the sashes may-be presented to the rays of the sunin a position to ob Struct the latter as little as possible. In the 17,1883. (No model.)

construction of my house I employ a Series of sashes of practicallyordinary form, and arranged side by side to form the roof, in numberaccording to the length of house desired; and I place several of theserows of sashes in tiers one above the other, with the lower bar of onetier of sashes overlapping the upper bars of the tier next below, withthe exception of the lower tier, the lowerrails of which rest upon theside walls of the structure. The series of sashesof each tier areconnected together by spline-and-groove or other tight connections, andare secured at about their centers to a horizontal rock-shaft extendingthe entire length of the house, and constituting a common pivot, wherebythe sashes of the entire roof may be opened simultaneously to anydesired extent, the swinging of the tier being effected by suitablemechanical devices under the control of a single attendant. The shaftswhich support the different tiers of sashes are mounted inbearingsupheld by trusses, preferably of light wrought iron, in order to impartalight and graceful appearance, these trusses being supported atintervals upon vertical columns erected upon the floor or foundation ofthe house, or embed ded at their lower ends in the earth. These trusses,in addition to being light and graceful in appearance, offer littleobstruction to rays of the sun or light, and occupy little space in'thehouse. Each tier of sashes is provided with suitable locking devices atproper intervals, to maintain a close joint with the next tier, theselocking devices being situatedv within the house, andoperatedsimultaneously by a common connecting-rod, in order that aslittle time as possible may be consumed in fastening or unfastening thesaid tiers of sashes. I prefer, also, to add to the top of the exteriorof the roof a locking device to securely close the upper edges of theupper tier of sashes, these locking devices being operatedf by suitablemechanism. The locking device is or may be a series of turn-buttonslocated upon the inside of the house, but operated from the outside; andto effect this I secure each button to a rock-shaft,which extends upwardthrough a bearing in the ridge, and is secured at its up per end to oneend of an arm, the opposite end of such arm being pivoted to ashipper-rod extending the length of the house, and connecting andoperating the entire series of buttons, the various rocloshafts beingeach 'swiveled in a saddle-plate disposed upon the outside of the apexof the roof, and so situated as to cover the slots in the sashes made toclear the truss when the latter are swung open. My object in mountingand operating the sashes in the above manner is to enable such sashes tobe opened easily and expeditiously and present them cdgewise to the raysof the sun, in order to obstruct the latter as little as possible andnot remove the sashes entirely. In the case of a very short house, oreven of a long one, each tier may bea single sash, and, in fact,when allare connected to their common shaft, they are a single sash to allintents and purposes. In practice, to secure economy and ease ofconstruction, I employ sashes of the ordinary width three feet-and Iconnect them with tongues and grooves, which provide a tight joint andinsure a firm connection.

The drawings accompanying this specification represent, in Figurel,averti cal cross-sec tion of one side of a greenhouse containing myimproven'lcnts. Fig. 2 is a section of a por tion of one of the trussesand the ridge. Fig. 3 is a section of a portion of one of the walls andof one of the trusses. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section of the ridge. Fig.5 is a sec tion, and Fig. 6 a plan, of the locking device supported bythe ridge and locking the upper sashes. Fig. 7 is a plan of the innerlocking devices. Figs. 8 and 9 are sections of the device for operatingthe shipper-rod. Fig. 10 is a view of a modified manner of pivoting thesashes. Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14-, 15, and 16 are detail views of differentparts of the structure.

In the above-named drawings, A A represent the side walls of agreenhouse, and B the floor or foundation of the same, substantiallyafter the manner of greenhouses as heretofore constructed.

In carrying out my invention I employ a series, 0 0,01" slopingtrusscs,of light wroughtiron, of the form substantially as shown inFigs. 1 and 2t-hat is, with an inner longitudinal chord, a, lateralcross ties or braces b b, and diagonal ties or braces c c, the lattersloping in a direction to permit of opening the sashes, as hereinafterexplained.

I do not confine myself to this precise form of truss, as it may bevaried from to a considerable extent without the exercise of inventiveskill. The braces c 0 may be omitted; but to obtain great strength Iprefer to retain them; and to permit the upper edges of the sashes toopen inward and downward, these diagonal braces are arranged obliquelyto the longest plane of the lower chord of the truss, sloping inward atbottom. Thelower ends of the trusses G are secured to the tops of thewalls A by bars d,while the upper ends of the side bars or of saidtrusses are connected together, as shown at e.

To support the truss C firmlyin position, IemployverticalcolumnsEE,disposed atproper intervals, these columnsresting upon the floor or foundation of thehouse, or embedded in theground at their lower ends, while their upper ends are securelyconnected with the rails act the trusses. The ridge of the house isshown (see Fig. 11) as a A-shaped metallic plate, B", extending thelength of the house, and upheld at intervals by vertical supports (1.,making part of the trusses, the sides of this saddle overlapping theupper rails of the upper tiers of sashes, as shown in Fig. rt of thedrawings.

G G in the accompanying drawings represent a series of rock-shaftsextending the on tire length of the house, and parallel with the roof ofthe latter, theseshaftsdike the columns E, and for the same reasons,being composed, preferably, of iron gas pipe, and for the addi tionalreason that I may wish to avail myself of the interior of the shaft as aconductor of water of condensation, as hereinafter explained. Theserock-shafts G Gare mounted in bearings j j in the trusses C, and aredisposed above one another in number equal to the number of tiers ofsashes employed. Each shaft G may be rocked inde'pemlcntly; but I preferto operate the entire shafts upon each side of the house simultaneouslyby mechanical means under the control of a single attendant; and to thisend I employ a screw-threaded rotary shaft, H, see Fig. 1,) journaled inbearings k is, &c., in one of the trusses Cpreferabl y the one in ornearest the center of the houscand to the lower end of this shaft Isecure a hand-wheel, I, which is within convenient reach of theattendant. I prefer that the shaft H shall be arranged practicallyparallel with the slope of the roof.

J .I represent a series of rigid curved arms, in number equal to thenumber of tiers of sashesone to eaeh-the lower ends of these curved armsbeing screw-threaded and screwing upon the shaft H, while each,at itsupper end,is pivoted, as shown at Z, to the lower end of a link, K, theupper end of each link K being in turn pivoted, as shown at m, to thefree end of an arm, L, the base of such arm being secured to therock-shaft G. The several tiers of sashes are shown in the drawings at MM. &c., as arranged one above the other longitudinally of the roof, withthe lower rail or rails, or, of each tier overlapping the upper rail orrails, 0, of the next tier below, as shown in Fig. 1. These sashes maybe of metal, in order to increase their durability, reduce the size ofthe rails, and offer less obstruction to the rays of the sun. As shownin the accompanying drawings, however, the sashes are composed of woodin the usual manner, and of the ordinary width, (three feet,) thesesashes being laid side by side in tiers extending the entire length ofthe house, or each section of the house, and jointed together at theirabutting edges by tongue-and-groove joints, (see Fig. 7,) which excludeexternal air and convert the entire series of sashes of each tier intopractically one sash. Each tier M of sashes is secured at about itscenter to the respective shaft G by checks p p, disof the shaft G (oneither side of the house) in one direction by means of thescrewfeedshaft H, arms J, links K, and arms L tends to turn the entire seriesof sash-tiers upon their supports and open them to any desired extent.:By this means almost the entire, and, in fact, practically the entire,roof is open to entrance of air and sun, as the sashes may be swung atright angles to the pitch of. the roof, and very little surface ispresented to obstruct the rays of the sun. I prefer to place the pivotalshaft G somewhat above the center of each tier of sashes, in order thatthe weight'of such tier may be exerted to close it, and in order thatthe greater area below the shaft may be acted upon by the wind in mannertending to close rather than open the tier.

To the inside edge of the upper rail of each tier, or the lower tier, ofsashes I'secure a gutter, N, which arrests any .water of condensationdripping from theinside of the roof, thereby protecting the plants fromsuch water. This gutter is preferably of metal, standing out from thesash, in orderthat if the lower rail of the sash is of wood itmay beprotected from the water standing in the gutter; or the gutter may bedisposed flush with the glass of the sash, in order to offer the leastobstruction; or it may be plowed out of the material of the upper railof thesash.

A pipe, (1, may be secured to each sashtier, as shown in Fig. 12 of thedrawings, to

conduct the water from one gutter to the-gut ter next below it; or aflexible pipe may lead from the gutter into the wall.

To remove the water of condensation collecting in the gutter, the lattermay connect with the interior of the adjacent shaft G (when the latteris tubular) by a suitable pipe, andthe ends of this tubular shaft mayextend ens tirely through the end walls of the house, in

order to discharge the water outside the latter; or a flexible pipeconnecting with the gutters may discharge into vessels inside the house,to receivethe water.

.I do not confine myself to any arbitrary construction or arrangement ofthe gutters, as I consider this feature of my invention to consist inthe combination, with a sash adapted to rock upon its supports, of agutter for intercepting the water of condensation dripping from suchsash when closed or nearly closed- I have now described the generalstructure of my house and the, method of supporting- I have describedthe entire number of sashes of a tier as secured together and operatingas one sash, and my own extensive cluster of houses is operated in thismanner; but it may be found desirable in some instances to divide up thetier into sections of two or more sashes and operate each sectionindependently. In the case of a jog in the house it will be necessary tothus.divi'de the tier, and it will be necessary also to employ a trainof gears or their equivalent to connect the shafts G of the varioussections of the house, if it is desired to connect and operate theentire series of tiers simultaneously. This latter arrangement I alsoemploy in some of my own houses.

I will now describe the manner of fastening or lockingthe sashes whenclosed, to seal the joint between them and prevententrance of externalair.

' At suitable intervals throughout the length of each tier or section ofsashes I apply a device constituted as follows: To the lower rail, 41.,of each tier I secure at intervals a swinging latch, s, pivoted to abracket, t,'secured to the under side of such rails, the nose of thislatch taking under the upper rail, 0, of the sash next below, therebypreventing rising of the lower part of each tier. (See Figs. 1 and 3.)In the case of the lower tier of sashes the latch s is employed, but ispivoted tothe-top of the wall, and upon itsnose is formed a lip, u, toengage a lug, 1', formed upon a plate, q, secured to the lower rail, n,of the lowest tier of sashes. (See Figs. 3 and 7 of the drawings.) Witheach tier of sashes I employ a horizontal sh ipper-rod, I, running theentire length of thehouse or sectionof house, and I swivel the lowerendsor tails, c, of each range of latch-bars sto this shipper-rod, as shownat'w, thereby connecting and simultaneously oper ating the entirelatchesof the tier. Prior to opening the sashes the attendant seizes 'one end 1of the shipper-rod I and moves the same longitudinally in the properdirectioinand thereby releases the latches s from the lugs r and unlocksthe entiretier of sashes. A longitudinal movement of the rod 1? in theopposite direction reverses the motion of the latches and locks thesashes. If it is desired to simultaneously operate the locking devicesof all the tiers,- the Various shipper -rods P must be moved in unison.To effect this I provide each shipper-rod with a longitudinal extensionor short shaft, g which is pivoted to one end thereof, as shown in Fig.15, and receives an internally screw-threaded sprocket-wheel, x. Thesprocket wheels '1 of the various screw-threaded shafts y are connectedby endless chains a", and are journaled in the ears 2 of brackets Q.These brackets are pivotally attached, as shownin Figs. 8 and 9, to therespective sashes O, and hold the sprocketwheels motionless. Inconsequence the rotation of said wheels draws the shafts y toward andthrough them, or forces said shafts in the opposite direction, and thisendwisemotion of said shafts is of course transmitted to the c v vshipper-rods I, with the result of simultaneously locking and unlockingthe sashes, as stated.

I prefer, as before stated, for perfect security, to add a lockingdevice to the upper bars of the uppermost tier of sashes. In carryingout this feature I add to the ridge B of the roof, opposite each trussupon each side, a saddle,R, (see Figs. 5 and 11,) against the under sideof which the upper part of the upper sash-tier closely abuts, thissaddlehaving a central rib, S, pendent from it, (see Fig. 5,) whichextends between the adjacent side rails of the two opposite uppersash-tiers, these rails being rab beted or notched at this point, asshown at S; or, in lieu of this continuous rib S, a hub may be employedto each fastenin To the under side of the saddle, opposite each truss, Iadd a turnbutton, T, which is secured to the lower end of a rock-shaft,U, which extends upward through a bearing in the saddle, and has affixedto its upper end, above such saddle, the base of an arm, V, the free endof each arm V being pivoted to a common shipper-rod, X, which extendsthe entire length of the roof, and by means of which the entire seriesof buttons T are operated. This shipper-rod may be operated by hand orby suitable mechanical means from the outside or the inside of thehouse, as may be preferred. The width of each turn-button is somewhatless than the width of-the opening S between two adjacent sashes of thesame tier, while the length of each button is considerably greater thanthe width of such opening. Consequently, when the but-- tons are turnedby their common shipper-rod to a position lengthwise with this opening,the sash-tiers are unlocked and may be opened. Reversing the position ofthe buttons causes them to span the openings S and lock the sashtiers.The saddle R, or wings of the same, covers the openings S and. preventsaccess thereat of external air or dust.

If the sashes are to be pivoted independently at right angles to thelongest plane of the house, I shall secure to the inside upper and lowerparts of each, and centrally thereof, or about so, (see Fi 10,)abracket, j, which ineloses and is secured to a shaft, 7:, journaled atits ends in bearings l, secured to or formed upon vertical columns m,&c., erected upon the fioor of the house. To the upper ends of thecolumns in, I secure the ridge, which in this instance, and with theother construction of house also, maybe an inverted-V shape, as shown inFig. 10. In this form the ridge constitutes a gutter to arrest a certainamount of moisture falling upon the roof, which can escape through thebores of the columns.

I claim 1. 'In greenhouses, and as a support to the roof, light metaltrusses of suitable shape to permit of tilting of the sashes, eitherindividually or collectively, in combination with ascries of sashesadapted to swing at about their centers upon their supports,substantially as explained.

2. In combination with the side walls, the roof-trusses composed of thelongitudinal side bars, right-angular lateral ties, and diagonal braces,which latter permit tilting of the sashes, substantially as explained.

3. In greenhouses, a series of sashes adapted to swing at about theircenters either laterally or longitudinally upon their supports, andoperated by suitable mechanical means,whereby they may be swungcollectively and simultaneously upon their supports.

4. In greenhouses, a tier of sashes swinging at about its center,collectively, upon its supports, a rock-shaft supporting such tier, andlight metal trusses supporting such roclcshaft and adapted to permit ofswinging of the tier.

5. The inverted ridge crowning the roof of the house, and operating as agutter to collect water.

6. The inverted ridge, in combination with conductors for conveying oilthe water arrested by such ridge.

7. In combination with a sash adapted to swing at about its center, atubular shaft, constituting the pivotal support of such sash, andprovision for conducting drip-water from the sash to the interior ofsuch shaft.

8. The saddle, in'combination with the piw otal sashes and the trussessupporting the same, such saddle constituting the support or bearings ofthe devices for locking the upper sashes.

9. The saddle, in combination with the pivotal sashes and the trussessupporting the same, such saddle constituting the support of the devicesfor locking the upper sash and a covering for the openings in or betweensuch sashes, through which the said locking devices operate to fastenthe sash.

10. The device herein explained for locking the upper sash, consistingof the shafts U and turn buttons T, the shaft being mounted in thesaddle R, and provided with the arms V, which are connected and operatedby the rod X.

11. The openings S in the sashes, in combination with the saddle R, orits equivalent.

12. The device herein shown and explained for locking the sashes,consisting of the latches s, with their lips a, and the plates q, withtheir lugs 1', the latches being preferably connected and operated bythe rod 1.

13. I11 greenhouses containing two or more tiers of sashes so arrangedthat the lower edge of one tier overlaps the upper edge of the tier nextbelow, a series of devices for locking such edges together, when suchseries of devices are operated collectively by mechanical in cans.

In testimony whereof Iafiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDMUND MORTIMER \YOOD.

lVitnesscs:

F. OUnrls, S. 0. Means.

